Govt orders OTT platforms to take down all Pakistan-origin content with immediate effect

NEW DELHI: The government has directed all OTT platforms, media streaming services, and digital intermediaries to immediately stop hosting or streaming any content that originates from Pakistan, citing threats to national security and public order.

The ministry of information and broadcasting, in an advisory issued on Thursday, invoked provisions under the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021, to justify the move. The directive covers all forms of media, including web series, films, songs, podcasts, and other digital content, whether provided for free or through a subscription model.

"In the interest of national security, all OTT platforms, media streaming platforms and intermediaries operating in India are advised to discontinue the web-series, films, songs, podcasts and other streaming media content... having its origins in Pakistan with immediate effect," the advisory said.

The government said that the move follows recent terrorist attacks, including the April 22 attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which resulted in the deaths of several citizens and one Nepali national. The attack was linked to Pakistan-based terror groups, according to the ministry.

The advisory underscored that publishers must avoid content that "affects the sovereignty and integrity of India" or is "detrimental to India's friendly relations with foreign countries."

This unprecedented action could impact content libraries of major streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney+ Hotstar, and others, which have previously hosted Pakistani-origin films and dramas.

The directive, signed by deputy director Kshitij Aggarwal, was issued with the approval of the competent authority and comes amid heightened tensions between India and Pakistan following cross-border terror attacks and the recent Operation Sindoor targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan.